Axle ID help

[birdistheword]

I have a 72 K10 and I'm trying to find out what year my front axle is. It's 6 lug, has yellow Spicer hubs on it and from the pictures has 44-5 or S and the diff cover tag has 3.73 and 41-1. The picture with the caliper mounting bolts is what has me wondering cause I want to replace the calipers. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Bigdav160]

Sure looks like a Dana 44.

But you have that listed in your Sig.

[birdistheword]

Yeah that's what I figured but can I replace the calipers with 72 calipers? I'm wanting to know what year it is?

[andrewmp6]

See if you can find any kinda part number on the caliper maybe?

[fp1967]

As far as I know, the calipers are all the same from 71 to I think 78. I think something with the brake line was changed in 79, same caliper except I'm thinking it had a different size banjo bolt. As far as the caliper mounting bolts, thats a 71-72 thing, in 73 they went with the allen head style bolt which uses a shorter bushing, but the calipers are the same. Either style bolt will work on your truck as long as you have the matching bushing of correct length.

[birdistheword]

Thanks FP 1967 that's exactly what I was trying to find out.

[swamp rat]

Its a Dana 44, clean the muck and see if that says 44-5F, also the build number called the BOM number (Bill Of materials) is on the axle tube on the driver side front kinda close to the diff, clean that off and get it as well. it should be 2 groups of numbers, the first is the date of axle build and the second is suppose to be the BOM.

http://manuals.forever-ink.com/Dana_BOM.pdf

http://www2.dana.com/expertforms/deabill.aspx

http://www2.dana.com/pdf/X510-8DSD.pdf

[birdistheword]

Cool thanks for the info. Another question. Should I be able to move the front axle shafts back and forth about a 1/2 inch?

[swamp rat]

Not sure what you mean by back and forth.

They do not have any type of retaining clip in the splined end inside the differential, They are held in place out on the hubs.

[birdistheword]

Like if I grab either shaft at the u-joint I can move them in and out of the axle tube about a 1/2-3/4 of an inch. Just wanted to know if that is normal?